Switzerland Campervan Road Trip and Camping Tips

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Are you curious how to best enjoy the pristine nature of Switzerland? Camping or renting a campervan for an epic road trip is a great way to see the very best of Switzerland. If you’re following my campervan itinerary for Switzerland, these are the campervan and camping tips you’ll need for the best time in Switzerland.

These tips are specific to campervanning in Switzerland but also apply to those on a road trip and renting cabins from campgrounds to help you understand the driving rules of the road and know what to expect at Switzerland’s campgrounds.

Pin this post along with my campervan itinerary for Switzerland to plan your dream Swiss road trip and campervan adventure. Let’s jump in with all my top tips and essential information for Camper Van travel in Switzerland.

2-Week Switzerland Itinerary + Tips

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Renting a Campervan

If you don’t have a campervan and you’re coming to Europe just for an epic campervan road trip through Switzerland, have no fear; there are plenty of places to rent one near the Swiss border.

We were based in Munich and drove a long-term lease, RoadSurfer. I highly recommend RoadSurfer. They offer fantastic customer service and have dozens of options for types of campervans, pricing tiers, and locations around Europe.  We drove our RoadSurfer from Munich to start our trip in Zürich.

However, you can rent RoadSurfer from their location near Zürich. To start your journey, take a train or fly to Zürich, and then follow RoadSurfer’s advice to get to their rental location, just outside the city.

There are other campervan options, such as My Camper, a Swiss-based company. However, since we used RoadSurfer for over a year with no complaints, my experience is limited to them.

Many companies have an age limit between 18 and 25 for renting a car, similar to in the U.S. So, verify the age and license requirements before renting to ensure you can drive legally.

Don’t want the hassle of renting a campervan? 

Our Swiss campervan itinerary also works with a rental car paired with camping, glamping, or cabin stays instead of staying in a campervan. All the campgrounds I recommend have cabins or chalets on-site and space for tent pitching. So, if you’re uncomfortable driving a larger campervan around Switzerland, I recommend booking cabins or ready-made campers on-site.  All these road and driving tips for Switzerland still apply. 

Rules of the Road: Road Trip Tips for Switzerland

Now that you have a campervan and you’ll be driving across Switzerland, we need to cover a few road rules, some specific to campervans. 

The Swiss Vignette

Instead of toll roads, Switzerland requires a paid vignette to drive on its highways. It is a sticker you put on your windshield that you can buy from any gas station. Just ensure you have it in your car before driving on the main motorway.

Vignettes are suitable for the entire calendar year and cost us about 40 CHF in 2020. When Google Maps tells you you are taking a toll road, it just means you will need the Vignette.

C02 and Carbon Offsetting

Most European campervans use diesel fuel with AdBlue. While AdBlue helps reduce diesel fuel’s harmful impact, your campervan road trip comes with a higher carbon cost.

I recommend keeping tabs on the kilometers you drive during your trip to balance this. Afterward, you can offset the carbon with Swiss-based MyClimate. If you are a frequent traveler and prefer to make ongoing donations to support carbon removal, I suggest joining Tomorrow’s Air, which removes carbon through Climeworks. I’m a member, and you can support carbon removal programs for only $10 a month. 

Other tips to reduce your impact

• Drive at the speed limit. Faster speeds burn fuel faster, and you’ll fill up more often. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be emitting less carbon.
• Pack in what you pack out. Don’t leave any waste or rubbish around. Check your camp for anything left behind. 
• Ditch the plastic. When you buy snacks, try getting fresh, local bio fruits and veggies. Zurich has several zero-waste grocery stores. Better yet, buy local produce from farms as you travel. 
• Offset your trip at home by riding your bike, taking the bus, saving energy, and reducing water consumption.

Switzerland’s Ecology and Climate Change

Switzerland is a very vulnerable country in terms of climate change. Many people travel to see its glaciers and towering snow-covered mountains.

It is also home to rare alpine flowers, such as the checkerboard orchid, and alpine ibex. With a blended cultural heritage, Switzerland is a unique European country with a blend of natural wonders and cultural heritage. While they don’t have many national parks, Switzerland has many nature and biosphere reserves.

If we do not take care and offset our travels to Switzerland, we will lose what makes this country so unique. We were so fortunate to camp below glaciers in Switzerland. Future generations won’t have this opportunity if we don’t act now. PLEASE offset your road trip.

Switzerland has several car-free cities. As you enjoy campervan travel, to visit these cities, you will leave the campervan at your campsite and enjoy train travel and lower-impact transit. In fact, in most cases, we left our campervan behind.

Border Crossings and Paperwork

If you are driving from a bordering EU country, such as France, Spain, or Italy, remember that Switzerland is not part of the EU. They recognize open borders with the EU, meaning there is often no one at the border who will stop you, and you’ll likely be able to drive through.

However, there is a slight chance you will get stopped. For this reason, make sure you have a legal driver’s license in the EU. (You can drive in Switzerland without a problem with any EU license or any major country like Australia, the US, or the U.K.).

When you rent your campervan, ensure you know and understand all the paperwork and insurance that comes with it – usually stored in the glove compartment. While it doesn’t always happen, I have had to show my driver’s license, passport, and vehicle registration at the Swiss border.

The border guards can be a bit of a stickler about coming to a complete stop at the border stop sign. So, if you see a border guard, come to a FULL STOP at the stop sign. Trust me, I learned this the hard way – as they came out just to yell at me for not stopping before waving me on.

Speed Limits, Driving Rules, and Tickets

Speed limits are the same across most cantons in Switzerland but are set differently for different driving situations. All the speeds below can change if it is raining, snowing, or icy. 

• When you pass through a town: 50km/h
• Roads on the outskirts of town: 80km/h
• Smaller highways: 100km/h
• Motorways/Freeways: 120km/h
• Larger vehicles and those pulling a trailer: 100km/h max

Other general rules

• Drive on the right
• Stop for pedestrians approaching the zebra crossing. Swiss drivers are very liberal with this and will often stop if they see someone coming.
• Headlights must be on at all times.
• Those in the left lane must pull over to provide a Rettungsgasse, or a lane, for emergency vehicles to pass if there is heavy traffic.
• By law, you are required to have a traffic triangle and safety vests in your car. Ensure you know where these are when you rent your car or campervan. 

While it is a bit of a myth you are fined based on your income, fines in Switzerland can be pretty high, and they take speed limits very seriously. If you go 11km/h over, fines can reach 250 CHF. The Swiss do not speed, so neither should you.

Signs and Languages

Keep in mind that Switzerland has four national languages. As soon as you cross the border of a Canton with a different language, you’ll notice signs change. Be aware of all signs in French, German, Italian, and Romanish. I recommend downloading all languages offline on Google Translate to help if you are in a pinch. 

Swiss Mountain Passes, Weather, and Technical Driving 

The roads in Switzerland are well maintained, and Swiss drivers are orderly and law-abiding, generally making for stress-free driving. However, the notorious Swiss mountain passes listed below are more technical. The mountain passes are worth putting on your itinerary, but there are countless passes you can explore. 

• St. Gotthard Pass—This pass includes 24 hairpin turns in 4 kilometers and a stretch of cobblestone road.
• Grand St. Bernard Pass: Explore the pass where the St. Bernard dogs helped travelers through
• San Bernardino: Escape into the mountains, seeing alpine lakes
• Furka: The famous pass from James Bond’s Goldfinger
• Albula Pass: See the Albula UNESCO rail bridge and charming villages

Some general guidelines for helping you navigate the mountain passes are:

• You can keep your gear between 1-3 for mountain passes and can use the gear to help you descend without over-relying on breaks.
• The mountain passes include tight hairpin turns with drops on one side. They are narrow, two-lane roads, so be mindful of oncoming traffic.
• You should be able to drive in stressful situations on narrow roads, understand how to give way, and let large vehicles pass. 
• Mountain passes are only open in summer, and the weather determines their opening and closing dates. 
• Even in summer, stormy and cold weather may occur in the mountains. Make sure you have a safety kit in the car.
• I recommend checking the weather, road conditions, and whether the pass is open before you begin your ascent. 
• Do not stop and take photographs. Use the designated pullouts and viewpoints for this. 
• Cyclists often share these narrow roads with you, so give them plenty of space. 
• Driving slowly and keeping your eyes on the road is the best way to stay safe.

Parking

We are big fans of settling into our campsite, parking the car, and then utilizing public transportation, our own two feet, bikes, or paddleboards to explore surrounding areas. This helps reduce our carbon emissions, and we get an intimate look at the camp’s surrounding areas. It also prevents stress from driving a larger vehicle around.

However, there will be times you want to explore a town or city on your drive between campsites. In that case, you will likely have to find parking. Parking is not typically free unless it is a holiday or Sunday, so make sure you have some small change on you and a parking wheel.

You should have a blue parking wheel in your glove compartment if you rent a car. In Blue parking areas, you often get two free hours. You should move the parking wheel to identify your parking time and place it in your window. If you don’t do this, you will likely get a ticket instead of free parking.

There are a few paid parking apps you can download as well, including TWINT and PARK NOW Switzerland.

Rest Stops

There are plenty of rest stops on the side of the road. Look for signs indicating a park (a tree and picnic bench) and WC so you can get out, stretch your legs, and enjoy some nature. These are free, and the toilets are well-maintained. 

Gas Prices

• Gas in Switzerland is usually between 1.40 – 1.80 CHF per liter (based on 2020 prices). Gas stations are easy to find, and you shouldn’t have trouble keeping fuel up between stops. 
• The exception to this is mountain passes, which do not have gas stations, so be sure to fill them out before entering a mountain pass. 
• Fill up your gas.
• Credit cards are accepted at all gas stations.

Tunnels

Being a mountainous region, Switzerland has many highway tunnels that cut through the mountains to save time. If you want to skip the mountain pass and get from A to B, you’ll be in and out of many long tunnels.

The tunnels are often narrow and dimly lit. Keep your headlights on and stay in your lane. The tunnels’ driving speed is usually reduced. 

Rules of the Camp: Tips for Camping and Campervanning in Switzerland

Where Can You Camp?

Switzerland seems like the ideal place to pull over in a remote area and set up camp with your campervan. However, in most places, you cannot set up your campervan on the side of the road unless it is for an ‘emergency,’ and even that comes with some stipulations.

What counts as an emergency? Say you’re driving too tired to make it to an official campsite, and you need to pull over to a parking lot to sleep – that’s fine. If you pull over in one of these emergencies, you can not just pull up on the side of the road or off-road to the middle of a field. I recommend, instead, that you find a large pull-out, parking lot, or something safely away from the road and away from private property.

Furthermore, you’re not supposed to look like you’re camping. While cooking a meal in your campervan fine, you shouldn’t set up a table and chairs, crack out the wine or boombox, pop the top of your camper, and rock out.  It is also illegal to offroad with your car.

The Park4Night app is an excellent resource for these situations and will help you find a safe and legal place to spend the night nearby. 

Regional Canton rules may differ, but regardless of the Canton, wild camping is not allowed in National Parks, Nature Reserves, Game Reserves, farmland, private property, or protected areas. The potential fine for breaking the law can be up to 10,000 CHF.

Furthermore, wild camping in a campervan can damage the local ecosystem and increase regional waste. Generally, I would stick to designated camping sites and areas and use the app in an emergency.

How to Find a Campsite

Switzerland has some great campsites that you should be utilizing. They have various sites ranging from plots on a small bio farm to large campsites great for the whole family. Check out my itinerary for all the great campsites we stayed at. But, if you are going to different areas or my recommendations are complete, then the following are great websites to help you find a campsite:

• Campspace.com – a site for rustic natural campsites
• Pitchup.com – a site for a wide variety of campsites
• Googlemaps.com – type campsite into search and look for places in your area. 
• Park4Night.com – an app for places to park overnight, primarily for one night without facilities. 
• TCS is a major Swiss camping company with campgrounds around Switzerland.

Cost of Camping in Switzerland

Most sites cost between 30 CHF on the cheaper side and 50 CHF on the more expensive side. Electricity is usually a few CHF per night in addition to the base cost. At the same time, mobile homes and cabin rentals are much more costly, with prices well over 100 CHF per night. Of course, prices vary by location and type of camping site you book. 

Reservations & Plan B

I highly recommend you make reservations if you are traveling in the summer and have a specific spot you want to stay. However, some of our favorite places don’t take online reservations, and you’ll need to arrive after check-in to snag a spot.

In this case, I recommend arriving shortly after check-in and also having a plan B, either another campsite or using the Park4Night app.

We like to plan our campervan travel with a mix of bookings and a few unplanned breaks. We will book a few nights at a campsite to secure one of our favorite locations and leave a night or two between the next booking to find a more rural spot with the P4N app.

But, if you like to have things booked and secure, you’ll want to plan. With the rise of road trips, mobile homes, camper van travel, and camping in the post-pandemic world, campsites will be increasingly busy during summer. So, book when you can, and always be ready to go with the flow.

Typical Amenities

Most campsites in Switzerland offer the following services:

• Toilet, showers, and waste facilities
• Fresh potable water
• Electricity
• Holiday cabins for rent
• Space for tents, RVs, campervans
• Playground or activities for younger kids
• Restaurant/bar or options to buy meals
• A small shop for essentials
• Access to or recommendations for tourist activities in the area
• Pet friendly for those bringing pets from the EU (pets from 3rd countries require specific paperwork; please see local rules for your particular situation)
• A ‘car’ wash
• Laundry facilities
• Dishwashing area
• Rec or indoor reading room

Other Information about Campsites in Switzerland

Switzerland uses a J plug. While some camping sites had electricity for an EU plug, we needed a J adapter for a few places. Our campervan came with an adapter, but if you don’t have one, I recommend asking at reception, as a few places offered an adapter for rent with a deposit.

Most places in Switzerland recycle. Ensure you sort your rubbish into glass, aluminum/carton/plastic, bio, and paper.  

You can pay by credit card. Many places charge you on your way out if you add anything to your bill. However, some places will take payment with an online booking or when you check-in.

You can order bread daily from the reception, especially in the French Cantons. You must do this the night before and pick up your fresh baguette in the morning.  

Most Swiss water is potable, so unless otherwise stated, you can fill your water bottle from the bathroom taps.

Most receptionists at the large campsites spoke English. However, some smaller sites in the French Cantons only spoke French.

The plots were smaller, more packed, and less aesthetic than sites in other countries where we’ve taken our campervan. While you’ll have room for an awning, table, and chairs, you won’t be able to go all out and set up too many extras like shelters, hammocks, and such. 

Gas and Dumping 

Most campsites will have room for you to dump grey water, flush your cassette-style black water, and fill your water tank. However, some smaller or more rustic sights may not have this option. There are a few gas stations with dumping facilities, but I recommend you wait until you’re at a campsite with these services, as they are pretty convenient. 

Camping Gaz is the most common type of gas used in European campervans. If you are running low, ask reception if they carry CG, or use the Camping Gaz location finder to find a replacement tank. 

Supermarkets & Food

Co-op is the most common supermarket in the region. I recommend searching for it to resupply your food.

One of the benefits of renting a German-owned Road Surfer is buying groceries in Germany, where things are much cheaper—otherwise, budget for Swiss supermarket prices. 

We also stayed at a few farms and rural areas and always bought eggs, bread, and cheese directly from them to stimulate rural economies. 

Weather & When to Visit 

In Rules of the Road, I mentioned that most mountain passes are only open in summer. Then, in Rules of the Camp, I said that campgrounds will be crowded during summer. So when is the best time for a Swiss road trip adventure?

Is summer too crowded? Will I miss you on the mountain passes in the off-season? For the best of both worlds, I recommend staying in early June or late September to try summer activities such as hiking with agreeable weather but avoiding the densest crowds.

We did our big campervan trip in May, and while the mountain passes were closed, we still enjoyed hiking, paddle boarding, and sightseeing with minimal crowds. May and October are also great times to visit. Having done a mountain pass in mid-summer while driving from Munich to Italy, I can say it is a spectacular experience, but I prefer to avoid crowds. So, just determine what is important to you.

Germans go on holiday in August, so I caution against August travel without securing bookings, as large family groups will likely be traveling from Germany. 

May and October: Minimal crowds, closed mountain passes, fewer families, a better chance of staying at your dream campsite, some snow possible, colder temperatures, especially at night, more availability on excursions like trains, gondolas, etc. 

June and September: Average crowds, open mountain passes, more family travel, agreeable weather.

July and August: Peak summer crowds, lots of families, warm weather, the possibility of overbooked campsites

Winter: Great for skiing and winter activities. Snow tires and winter driving skills are required. A van heater is a must. Fewer people camp, but winter tourists visit ski towns—possible temps below zero, ice and snow on roads. 

What to Pack

If you visit during the shoulder seasons in May or September – October, pack base layers, warm clothing, and blankets for your campervan. I recommend hiking gear, waterproofs, and layers no matter the season, as it can get cold in higher elevations. We also made use of:

• Bicycles with panniers for sightseeing trips
• Paddleboard
• Outdoor lights
• Colder weather gas for shoulder-season
• Rain boots
• Headlamp

Comment and Share

I hope these Campervan tips for your Switzerland camping and road trip help you plan a safe and fun holiday. Make sure you pin and share these tips to your Switzerland planning boards.

• Are you planning a camping or campervan trip to Switzerland? What are you most excited or nervous about?
• Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.